MetMalaysia onset of Northeast Monsoon Season

The Northeast Monsoon season has commenced in Malaysia on 1 November 2013. This season is characterized by northeasterly winds that blow persistently across the South China Sea to the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. During this season, the East Coast states of Peninsular Malaysia, coastal areas of Sarawak and East Coast of Sabah will experience four to five episodes of widespread heavy rains that may continue for three to seven days and cause floods in the East Coast states and the southern region in Peninsular in November, December 2013, and January 2014. Similar condition will occur in the western and central parts of Sarawak in December 2013, January and February 2014 and also the East Coast of Sabah in January and February 2014.

The Northeast Monsoon during this time is expected to be normal and will last until the third week of March 2014. The first episode of heavy rains is expected to occur on the third week of November 2013. Although the country is expected to experience a normal Northeast Monsoon, each occurrence of heavy rainfall episode can cause flooding, especially at the river basins.